I love music, but I'm a pretty lackadaisical music finder and follower. I must attribute much of my keen and sophisticated musical taste to friends* who have made me mixes over the years**. 

When I went to Bonnaroo for the first time in 2009, it was a turning point in my music-listening journey. All of these musicians were right at my fingertips, bands I had never heard of or bands I kind of knew. More than once, I'd be listening to a set and hear a song from one of my friends' mixes. It was like putting faces to names.

At the time I had only heard one or two Grizzly Bear songs. I told my friend that she should go with me to see them, but she was caught up listening to someone else. I walked to the tent alone in the aftternoon sun, backpack in tow, and was able to wind my way through the crowd and close to the stage.

It was my favorite concert of the festival, definitely the most memorable. They were the one band who convinced me to buy their album when I returned home.

This past year, I had almost exactly the same experience with War on Drugs, and now I can't get enough of them.

*Shout out to Micah and Ben!
**Make me a mix, and you will make me happy.

Remember my vicious and sad sheep dog friend? Here's an update.

I've cut him free and we're now living in a craftsmen style bungalow in South Knoxville. He and Juicy are getting along juuust fine...

Sigh... 

No, his life is still tragic, especially now with the summer heat. He spends his days a filthy heap of fur asleep by his house. 

His owners did shave him, so they aren't 100% terrible. Only 99.

I have taken it upon myself to give him treats and a reason to live. Of course, they're dental treats because I mean business in my Good Samaritan efforts. 

The first time I tried to give him one, I called for him to come up the hill to me, but he stayed on the porch. I threw it to him, it bounced off the deck, and ricocheted out of his reach. Fail.

The next time, I had a better throw, he ate it, and stared at me from the porch. Progress.

This past weekend, I coaxed him to come up the hill to me. He's still a little snarly, so I used my trusty stick to pet him. 

I gave him the treat, and then he started doing the same thing he did when I freed him from the tree trunk he had wrapped himself around in the storm- he bounded around playfully. I continued to stick pet him but I knew he wanted something more. 

 

It looks like he has little sore spots on his skin (mange? I should know this, but I don't) where flies keep landing. Or maybe the flies like him because he's dirty. 

 

I did pet him on the head with my bear* hand for about ten seconds. Then I went home to wash my hands immediately.

 

 

In my teeny tiny bubble of a world, this is the most risky thing I've done with my life in a long time. Not only is he unpredictable, but I have this wonderful feeling I'm going to get a gun pulled on me one day very soon. The blinds of the house are closed and I only visit when there aren't any cars in the driveway, but still. This is life on the edge, and it's exhilarating. 

 

 

I decided to give him a name. My first thought was Pookie Face, but then, I thought, no. A desperate dog such as this needs a strong and noble namesake. So I've named him Samuel, after Samuel Hamilton.

*ha!

Here are photos of the progression and completion of Bow Line, the sculpture we worked on at Bonnaroo.

Designed by Jason Brown, Chris King, and Brian Jobe who were assisted by Forrest Kirkpatrick, Russ Porter, Dean Yasko, and Beth Meadows. 

Russ

Russ, Brian, and Dean

Russ

Russ and Jason

Dean and Forrest

Russ

Forrest, Brian, Dean, and Russ

Me, Brian, and Forrest

Dean

Forrest and Brian

Dean and Forrest

Bow Line at Night. Oooh.

Enjoyed by many people in midriffs at Bonnaroo. Bow Line.

Today is the last day you can purchase tickets through me to the show I'm a part of in Nashville this Thursday. I just have a couple more to sell!

Follow this link, choose "Buy a ticket for this artist," then click "Buy tickets," then choose my name in the drop down box, etc. etc.

I am not Paypal savvy, but it looks like you can use a cc to purchase.

Thanks to those who have bought tickets. Y'all are the best!

June 2012: Short neon shorts replace the feather hair extension.

I have two mason jar paintings up at the Emporium until the end of the month for The Bridge Exhibit which benefits Bridge Refugee Services. Please go check out this show and support this great organization with your dolla bills.

June 1-29, 2012
The 2nd Annual Bridge Exhibition
The Emporium Center
100 S Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Gallery open M-F 9am to 5pm

My birthday is next week, and I have two wishes.

One, a hula hoop.

And two...

I would love, love, love if you purchased a ticket to my next art show.

I'm really excited about this exhibition. I'll be showing in Nashville for the first time next Thursday, June 21 at Mercy Lounge from 8pm to 12am. I've been asked by the organization Raw: Natural Born Artists to be a part of this monthly, multi-artist show.

It lasts one night and gives visual artists, musicians, fashion designers, photographers, and more a chance to showcase their work together. I will also have the chance to show in other cities nationwide through Raw once I show in Nashville.

Tickets are $10 and I have about 10 more to sell. To buy one from me, you can visit my Raw Artist Profile Page. If you'd rather not pay using paypal, you can pay me directly. Email me at beth@bethmeadows.com, and we can work it out.

I hope you can come, but even if you can't, you can still sponsor me by purchasing a ticket.

This is a small but huge way to support me and help me get the ball rolling to show in other cities.

It will also be a great start to my 28th year!

Bonnaroo, an unexpected time of reflection.

Russ

I ended up having a great time.

This isn't to say there weren't rough spots (i.e. sharing porta potties for eight days with thousands of other people), but my mind was distracted by what was good, and there was a lot of that.

Brian and Forrest

While Bonnaroo facilitated the experience I had, what I enjoyed the most was much simpler, and that was merely the joy of being with people. Constantly.

Dean

Being in Knoxville so long, it's hard not to compare college days with late twenties life. So much of my time is spent in solitude which is fine, but it was nice to shake things up a bit.

Though they were a feast for the eyes, it definitely wasn't the thousands of people that I liked being around but our small team of workers. We made art together, ate together, hung out in the mornings before we'd go hear music. We walked around listening to music and talked about how crazy everyone else was. Because they were. Absolutely crazy.

...I'll admit, too, the aspect I liked so much about this team was that it was predominantly male...

It's something my single female friends and I talk about, how male friends drop off the map as you become older. I know it's the natural progression of life as they move or marry, but I was happy this past week to have a little glimmer of my past. I've missed that so much.

It was also nice not talking about babies and pregnancy for a short time, as has become a common theme to conversation lately in my married friends' lives. 

Forrest sporting my grandfather's hat

Me varnishing the top deck for Bow Line

Dean helping with the varnishing

Beginning stages of the project Mirror Field, created by Jason and Lisa Brown

Another part of this trip I enjoyed was the collaborative aspect. I've been on several trips where I've built houses or painted fences, but making something sculptural with others outdoors, sweating for the sake of creativity, was new and refreshing. I've been hoping to collaborate more, and this experience allowed me to do that.

I also liked not having to think about the pieces conceptually but to just make. I can always appreciate anything where I don't have to think.

Mirror Field

Dean and Kevin put together the rainbow for Mirror Field

Katie and Willie applying mirrored mylar to Mirror Field clouds

Me painting the rainbow for Mirror Field

Carolyn working on one of the arches for Mirror Field

Centeroo ferris wheel in the background

Willie and Kevin working on the bench for Mirror Field

Dean takes a break

I hope this experience permanently flipped a switch. Since I've returned, I've talked with three artists about making work together. I'm excited about the prospect because it's time to hurdle some mental blocks I've had lately.

Teamwork. Applying more mirrored mylar

It could just be a rut, but when I hit points like this, I always tend to wonder if art might be fading from me all together. I don't know why I think that way, but I do. It's good timing to have some help from others.

 

In the meantime, I'll think fondly of painting the rainbow above that filled thousands of hippies with delight last week.